The National Maritime Museum presents the liner France, until October 23rd, 2011 – Hotel Britannique

On May 11, 1960, the launch of the new liner France thrilled the heart of all over France! As a national industrial work: the France will assure a high-speed crossing of the Atlantic ocean between Le Havre and New York.

Liner Le France, triomphal welcome in New York

This ship is an impressive real technical feat. It is resolutely modern in its architecture and aesthetics the decoration of all interior spaces assigned to designers and artists of the ’50-’60, as well as the choice of materials (aluminium, glass sheets, synthetic textile…) to be fireproof.

Its 200 meters long make it then the greatest liner in the world. It can accommodate up to 2000 passengers.

The crew account 1000 employees. No fewer than 170 people, including 90 in the kitchen, are managing the catering which was as high as the luxury amenities offered by the cruise.

Reserved for wealthy clients, the France perfectly symbolized the “French-style” navigation in a luxurious frame. Very many celebrities have navigated on the France.

Fifty years later, the National Maritime Museum proposes an exhibition composed of multiple memories, in commemoration of this anniversary.

Public and private collections have been gathered: works of art, decorative items, uniforms of the crew, dishes, pictures of passengers, posters…

1000 m² exhibition will make you relive the history of this ocean liner having become legendary, also synonym of nostalgia of a whole period.

The economic conditions of that time will sadly lead to the abandonment of the ship that was taken a while, under the name of Norway, by a Norwegian company. It then continued its navigation as the Blue Lady. In 1974, it will end up in the Indian shipyards of Alang Bay, to be disarmed.

And now… boarding on France at the National Maritime Museum!

Discover also the web TV (in French) dedicated to the cruise France which will broadcast each week a new issue.